Wolf Creek XVIII Part 7: strategies to optimize international collaborations in cardiac arrest research

TL;DR

This paper outlines strategies to improve international research collaborations in cardiac arrest to accelerate scientific progress and improve patient outcomes.

Contribution

The paper provides consensus recommendations from the Wolf Creek XVIII Conference on optimizing global collaboration in cardiac arrest research.

Findings

Large-scale registries like GOHCAR show the importance of trust and sustained engagement in international data collaboration.

TRANSCEND aims to harmonize preclinical research across international labs.

Multicenter trials like STEPCARE are advancing inclusive global clinical research.

Abstract

International collaborations in research for cardiac arrest are much needed to advance the science, translate this into practice and implement for impact. However, barriers and challenges remain for international collaboration. This paper aims to summarize the key discussions and consensus recommendations from the Wolf Creek XVIII Conference, focusing on strategies to optimize international collaborations in cardiac arrest research.

The 50th Anniversary Wolf Creek XVIII Conference was hosted by the Max Harry Weil Institute for Critical Care Research and Innovation in Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA on June 19–21, 2025. Strategies to Optimize International Collaborations in Cardiac Arrest Research was a topic of focused presentations and discussions by invited panelists and conference participants, made up of international academic and industry scientists, as well as thought leaders in the field of cardiac arrest resuscitation. An expert panel gave perspectives and insights that were debated and feedback was given by participants.

Discussions were organized into three domains: registry research, basic science and translational research, and clinical trials. Several large-scale registries have collectively advanced data-driven resuscitation science through collaboration and mutual learning, while continuing to face challenges related to heterogeneity, privacy regulation, and data lag. Successful models like the Global Out-of-Hospital Cardiac Arrest Registries (GOHCAR) consortium highlight the importance of trust and sustained engagement. In preclinical research, the Transcontinental Cardiac Arrest Experimental Network for Discovery (TRANSCEND) aims to harmonize international laboratory studies. Clinical collaboration is progressing through multicenter randomized controlled trials such as the Sedation, temperature and pressure after cardiac arrest and resuscitation (STEPCARE), promoting inclusive, adaptive global research.

Sustained international collaboration across registries, laboratory studies, and clinical trials is key for advancing resuscitation science. By fostering trust, harmonization, and capacity building, these global networks can accelerate discovery and improve outcomes across cardiac arrest and other time-critical conditions.

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